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Girlguiding UK has welcomed news that The Sun is covering up its topless Page 3 models.

The organisation, which has more than 500,000 young members, lent its support to the No More Page 3 campaign in protest at the impression it gives girls of what is expected of them, calling the controversial feature "disrespectful and embarrassing".

We are thrilled to hear that the Sun has decided to stop printing images of topless women on Page 3. This is a hugely positive step for girls and women and shows the difference we can all make when we speak out together.

It is impossible for girls to nurture their ambitions if they are constantly told that they are not the same as their male equivalents. This is what Page 3 did. It was disrespectful and embarrassing.

Members of the No More Page 3 campaign have celebrated an apparent decision by The Sun to cover up its models in recent days - having them pose in their underwear rather than topless.

While The Sun has yet to officially confirm or deny the reports, campaigners have called it a "great day for people power" - and said while there is more to be done, it was a "very important" first step.

We hoped to bring about a change by raising awareness of the sexism of Page 3; awareness of the way having women presented in this way [in] the news serves to reduce the importance of all women to their appearance and sexual allure; awareness of the fact that whilst sexy pictures may have a place, the accessibility of the Page 3 picture, in the front of the paper, makes access to sexualised women's bodies as much of a given as the TV listings or the crossword puzzle.

Through the shared voices of some fantastic women and men we have succeeded in keeping a discussion going about the way that this feature permeates and affects the society we all live in.

– No More Page 3

The statement added that while models appearing in their underwear was "still not equality", it indicated a shift in societal attitudes.

The three main broadcasters - ITV, BBC and Sky - hosted one debate each in the run-up to the 2010 election.

However, the alliance between YouTube and the two newspapers wants to "break the monopoly" broadcasters hold on the debates and "allow innovative audience participation", according to the Guardian.

The consortium have also vowed to have a female moderator if they host a debate after three men - Alastair Stewart, David Dimbleby and Adam Boulton - hosted the events before the last election.

Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian editor-in-chief, said: "The digital world has become an increasingly vital democratic tool and forum for debate, and it's imperative that politicians understand and embrace the opportunities afforded to them by it."

Former BBC deputy director-general Mark Byford has defended his near-£1 million pay-off, saying that he had not been greedy and the broadcaster had offered him that amount.

Former BBC deputy director-general Mark Byford. Credit: PA

Mr Byford, whose salary was £475,000, received a total of £949,000 when he was made redundant by the corporation - leading to widespread criticism of the BBC.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I have done nothing wrong. I appreciate obviously and understand that it was a lot of money. I appreciate the concern and criticism about the executive payoffs."

But he added: "I absolutely don't think it was greed on my part at all."

Mr Byford, who was on the radio show to talk about his new book, a war story, said: "I lost my job. I was made redundant. I was given the terms I was given by the BBC. I left when I was told to leave by the BBC.

"After 32 years of working there, where I was devoted to the corporation, the last thing that I would ever think or feel was that I would want to have greed."